Closure device for closing flexible tubes

ABSTRACT

Tube closure devices comprising bendable members, each having a pair of arms connected together by integral hinges are disclosed. Coacting latch arrangements are disposed on the extending ends of the arms to latch the arms over sections of flexible tubes which are placed under compression via the closure devices. Raised floor sections on at least one of the arms serve to compress and sealingly close the tube such that residual pressures are provided in a closure. Alternate curved floor sections also assure a sealed closure and provide strain relief means in a closure where the flexible tubes join closure devices.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,708,149 Dinger [4 1 Jan. 2, 1973 s41CLOSURE DEVICE FOR CLOSING 3,327,709 6/1967 Nehring et a1. ..128/214 1)FLEXIBLE TUBES 3,078,533 2/1963 Allen ..24/30.5 W

[75] Inventor: Leon Joel Dmger, Harrisburg, Pa. Primary Exammer MartinP. Schwadron [73] Assignee: AMP Domestic Inc. Assistant Examiner-RichardGerard Attorney-William J. Keating, Ronald D. Grefe, [22] Flled' 1971Gerald K. Kita, Frederick W. Raring and Jay L. [21] Appl. No.: 116,057Seitchik Related US. Application Data [57 ABSTRACT Division of S61. NO.l, 2, Pat. NO. Tube closure devices comprising bendable members 3761L475 each having a pair of arms connected together by integral hingesare disclosed. Coacting latch arrange- [52] US. Cl. ..251/9, 24/305 W,292/307 R mems are disposed on the extending ends of the arms [51] hit.Cl ..Fl6k 7/04: to latch the arms over Sections of flexible tubes which[58] F'eld Search 128/346 are placed under compression via the closuredevices. 23 339/276 292/307 R Raised floor sections on at least one ofthe arms serve to compress and sealingly close the tube such that [56]References C'ted residual pressures are provided in a closure. AlternateUNITED STATES PATENTS curved floor sections also assure a sealed closureand provide straln relief means In a closure where the flex- 1,474,97211/1923 Kulier ..339/276 T ible tubes join closure devices. 3,461,8768/1969 Miller ..251/10 X 2,809,651 10/1957 Moberg ..251/9 X 1 Claim, 4Drawing lFigures PMENIEDJAH 21975 3,708,149

END SEGMENT OF COLLECTION TUBE I 1 5O '38 46 TUBE T" I 42 3o 46 3 6 4832 46 3e a T COLLECTION CLOSURE DEVICE FOR CLOSING FLEXIBLE TUBES CROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a divisionalapplication of application, Ser. No. 812,811, filed Apr. 2, 196 9 andnow U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,475.

This invention relates to closure devices of the type used to sealinglyclose flexible tubes.

In blood donating operations, flexible bags are generally used tocollect and store human blood. Flexible tubes extending from the bagsare used for a two fold purpose: First, they convey blood from the donorto the collection bag; secondly, they are used to house small'samples ofblood. Immediately after a donation, the technician closes the tube atintermittent sections along the length thereof. The sections may beindividually removed at a later time so that the samples therein may betested.

It is imperative that the ends of the tube be hermetically sealed sothat the blood in the collection bag does not become contaminated.

Most prior tube closure devices are in the form of an intricate clip orclamp which is usually deformed when secured around a tube. This usuallyrequires a special tool to deform the device onto the tube. Other tubeclosure means include an intricate welding or heat-sealing apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide closure devices forflexible tubes which are simple in construction, which are quick andeasy to use, and which are made from nylon or other suitable plastic.

Another object is the provision of closure devices for flexible tubeswhich are simple in construction which are quick and easy to use, andwhich are made of bendable metal such as aluminum.

An additional object is to provide closure devices which willhermetically seal flexible tubes without the aid of intricateapplication tooling.

A further object is to provide a closure device which may be re-openedand re-used.

Still another object is the provision of closure devices of the typedescribed which, due to their unique Simthere are shown and describedillustrative embodiments of the invention; it is to be understood,however, that these embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive norlimiting of the invention but are given for purposes of illustration inorder that others skilled in the art may fully understand the inventionand the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practicaluse so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be bestsuited to the conditions ofa particular use.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of still another embodiment in an openposition;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view'of the closure device of FIG 1 closedonto a flexible tube;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken longitudinally through a pair ofclosure devices of FIG. 1 showing a flexible tube compressed; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment in an openposition.

Referring to FIG. 1, another closure device CDb comprises a pair ofV-shaped closure members 30 and 32 which are identical in shape andwhich are formed from bendable metal, such as, for example, aluminum.Members 30 and 32 are fabricated from flat sheet stock, and they arejoined by an integral strap 34 to provide a one-piece closure device.Each member has a pair of arms 36 and 38 which are connected byrespective bights 40 acting as hinges. The extending ends of arms 36terminate in tabs 42 which are identical for each member and which arereduced in width from the width of arms 36 so as to be centrallydisposed relative thereto. Tabs 42 are bent to a hook shape so as to bedirected inwardly towards arms 38. The ends of arms 38 have recesses 44defining slots to receive tabs 42. lnwardly directed ridges or ribs 46are formed in members 30 and 32 so as to be disposed on the flat surface48 of arms 36, along hinges 40 and on floor surfaces 50 of arms 38. Theribs may be disposed only in the members 30 and 32 and offset relativeto one another or only one of members 30 and 32 maybe provided with arib.

In use, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a double closure device 30and 32 is disposed over a flexible tube T whereafter the device isclosed to sandwich thetube between arms 36 and 38. During closing, thetube T becomes generally compressed between surfaces 48 and 50 of thearms, and it is tightly compressed between ridges 46, see FIG. 3. Whenthe devices 30 and 32 are fully closed, tabs 42 are disposed inrespective recesses 44, and they are bent inwardly along arms 38, seeFIG. 2. This arrangement latches the devices onto a tube and preventsthem from being accidentally removed. The devices may be removed, ifdesired, by bending tabs 42 out of their respective recesses 44 andopening the arms 36 and 38. The closure devices may be closed onto atube by a simple hand tool such as pliers, or they may be disposed in asimple applicator of the staple type (not shown).

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, if at some later time a sample ofblood is to be checked, the end test segment of a collection tube isremoved by severing a closure device along the broken line through strap34. After severing, the end segment of the collection tube remainsclosed and sealed by closure device 30, and the next segment (now theend segment) remains closed and sealed by closure device 32. The segmentremoval procedure may be continued from time-to-time until all testsegments are removed. 1

Referring now to FIG. 4, the closure devices 30 and 32 may be coatedwith plastic material 52 in accordance with conventional plastic-coatingtechniques such as for example, dipping, spraying or fluidized bed. Theplastic coating will not only eliminate sharp edges on the closuredevice proper which may snag a tube, but it will add to the sealingcharacteristics of a closure device. I

It should be noted that closure devices according to this invention maybe used on plastic tubes'other than those of blood collectionapparatuslThe devices may also be used on other flexible tubes :such aselastomeric material. The devices not only provide a liquid seal, butthey also provide an air-tight seal.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the afore-mentioned and otherdesirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasizedthat the particular embodiments of the invention, which are shown anddescribed herein, are intended as merely illustrative and not asrestrictive of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A pair of generally V-shaped, reusable metal closure devices forclosing and sealing a flexible tube comprising first arms and secondarms, integral hinges at inner ends of said arms connecting said armstogether, a bridge connecting said pair of devices together, said bridgepositioned between two of the arms of the devices, each of said devicesadapted to close onto and flatten and seal sections of the tube, each ofsaid first arms having a tab on an outer end thereof, said tab being ofless width than said first arm, a recess in each outer end of saidsecond arms, said recesses adapted to receive said tabs when said armsare closed on the sections of the tube, said tabs further adapted to bebent under portions of said second arms to latch the arms into closedengagement onto the sections of the tube, said arms each having acentrally disposed, inwardly directedridge on the inside surface thereofso that as said arms are closed, said ridges cooperate to tightly andsealingly engage the tube thereinbetween.

1. A pair of generally V-shaped, reusable metal closure devices forclosing and sealing a flexible tube comprising first arms and secondarms, integral hinges at inner ends of said arms connecting said armstogether, a bridge connecting said pair of devices together, said bridgepositioned between two of the arms of the devices, each of said devicesadapted to close onto and flatten and seal sections of the tube, each ofsaid first arms having a tab on an outer end thereof, said tab being ofless width than said first arm, a recess in each outer end of saidsecond arms, said recesses adapted to receive said tabs when said armsare closed on the sections of the tube, said tabs further adapted to bebent under portions of said second arms to latch the arms into closedengagement onto the sections of the tube, said arms each having acentrally disposed, inwardly directed ridge on the inside surfacethereof so that as said arms are closed, said ridges cooperate totightly and sealingly engage the tube thereinbetween.